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Today we look at The Portraits of the Forty-Seven Ronins by Umesaburo Tanaka.
This volume was published in Yokohama in 1886 and features over 5o pages of beautiful full-colour woodblock illustrations of Japan's ronins. The ronins were samurai with no lord or master during Japan's feudal period of 1185–1868. A samurai could became masterless from the ruin or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favour or privilege. The Library's volume tells of the famous exploits or battles of these ronins, with each depicted in traditional Japanese ceremonial robes or battle dress.
The Library's Special Collections include a number of rare or valuable titles, some dating back to the sixteenth century. These titles are mostly held in the Mackintosh Library. Because of the value of these itmes, special access arrangement are in place, with viewing strictly by appointment only with our Academic Liasion Librarians.
